Using Social Networking In Higher Education

1277 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Social media's effect on students

Position Paper - Using Social Networking In Higher Education
As the use of social networking becomes commonplace in our everyday lives, plans to use social networking in schools has met growing opposition, and the efficacy of social networking as a teaching tool is being challenged. The decision on whether or not to utilize these internet-based social networking sites can be complicated, as teachers and administrators weight the benefits and risks of the tools.
Supporters for social learning in education observe that students see technology as an everyday tool and for these students, integrating social networking as part of the curriculum can provide numerous benefits. Detractors see social networking as a distraction to learning, and a potential risk to students. Fearing that it will undermine the value of in-person learning, they are pushing to have it blocked from classrooms.
I agree that the use of social networking in schools is a valuable tool. Social networking is an effective method for removing borders in communication, engaging students in global learning, and enriching curriculum by making available previously unreachable resources. Social networking provides students a number of alternative ways to do research and collaborate with peers. These methods include social networking site, blogs, podcasts, discussion boards, and the sharing of videos. The value of social networking far outweighs the risks to students, and its use should be encouraged as part of standard curriculum.
Social networks began to enter mainstream use between 2003 and 2004, when web sites such as Myspace, Facebook and LinkedIn were launched. Around this same time the process of podcasting was introduced and image sharing sites such as Flickr let pe...

... middle of paper ...

...rking Tools in K-12 Education. Education, 134, 154-160.
Knight, J., & Rochon, R. (2012). Starting Online: Exploring the use of a Social Networking Site to Facilitate Transition into Higher Education. The Electronic Journal of E-Learning, 10, 257-261.
Kurthakoti, R., Boostrom Jr., R. E., Summey, J. H., & Campbell, D. A. (2013). Enhancing Classroom Effectiveness Through Social Networking Tools. Marketing Education Review, 23, 251-263. http://dx.doi.org/DOI: 10.2753/MER1052-8008230304
Lester, J., & Perini, M. (2010). Potential of Social Networking Sites for Distance Education Student Engagement. New Directions for Community Colleges, 150(), 67-77. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/cc.406
Vanwynsberghe, H., & Verdegem, P. (2013, September 12). Integrating Social Media in Education. CLCWeb: Comparative Literature and Culture, 15(3), 1-10. http://dx.doi.org/10.7771/1481-4374.2247

Show More
Related

  • Social Media, Free Speech and the Judicial Legacy of the Tinker Case

    1119 Words  | 3 Pages

    Social media is revolutionizing the way we communicate and interact with one another. For better or worse we are connecting in ways that simply did not exist a decade ago, and those connections are presenting schools with increasing number of challenges. School districts shoulder the responsibility for the well-being of today’s students and with the advent of social media, districts are at the center of legal issues concerning student’s freedom of speech and a school’s responsibility to provide an appropriate learning environment.

    Read More

  • Sociological Perspectives on Evolving Family Structures

    1069 Words  | 3 Pages

    This perspective explains social networking as a way for society to develop social qualities through interactions with others and this method of interaction is commonly accepted and promoted among different cultures, social and education backgrounds irrespective if negative or positive. For instance, social networking can provide a parent a way to communicate with his or her child’s teacher without having to schedule around work or home

    Read More

  • Research Proposal: Effects of Social Networking on Undergraduate Student’s Grades

    1564 Words  | 4 Pages

    Turan, Z., Tinmaz, H., & Goktas, Y. (2013). The Reasons for Non-Use of Social Networking Websites by University Students. Comunicar, 21(41), 137-145. doi:10.3916/C41-2013-13

    Read More

  • Social Media In Schools Essay

    1343 Words  | 3 Pages

    As technology increases and develops in this century, the use of social media increases as well. Schools have begun adapting it, using it as their tool to inform students of any school related news. However, using it as a tool for learning is a different story. By using it as a tool, it can push you off your course with classes. Social media is something that is not needed at school grounds. Schools should not require social media use in classes.

    Read More

  • The Power of Social Media in the Classroom

    912 Words  | 2 Pages

    Exposing students to the power of social media in the classroom is an important part of preparing them to be active and positive digital citizens in a 21st century world. In the last two years, my own students have rapidly been drawn to Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and many other social networking platforms. They upload, share, and connect with others often without any regard to how their digital footprints may reflect them as individuals. Having continuous conversations with students about the choices that they make can lead to positive results. Students don't realize how powerful social media platforms can be in terms of networking, researching, and engaging in academic conversations. It makes me laugh every time I hear them whisper about my colleague Heather's or my Twitter feed. First of all kids, I can hear you. Second of all, yes, social media can be an amazing way to give and exchanged knowledge.

    Read More

  • The Impact Of Social Software

    825 Words  | 2 Pages

    The advantages of using the social network make it an excellent learning tool through dialogues and collaborations. Class Materials and online cooperation among students foster the creation of a class-room-like learning environments which has many potential benefits that they can acquire. The communication and interaction in learning is reinforced by adding the social networking to the school community; therefore, it results in the overall enhancement of the learning environment.

    Read More

  • Time Spent On Social Media Essay

    1311 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the age that we live in, social media has intergraded with college student’s daily lives and how much time is spent on social media. Social media is neither inherently bad nor good it all depends on how it is being used. “Social media are increasingly mobile, smartphones and tablets give users instant and around the clock access to social media and other web functions.” (Martinez-Aleman) When college students access sites on social media like Twitter or Facebook and get side tracked then social media is bad because it effects their education. However, when it is being used to communicate with their peers or professors then social media is a tool of good. Some researchers believe that the social media helps college

    Read More

  • The Negative Effects Of Social Media On Our Generation

    1500 Words  | 3 Pages

    Communication plays an important role and becomes an essential part in our daily lives. Today we have taken communication to new level as social media and social networking. They have had a tremendous impacts on the word, on our culture and in business as well. Social media websites are some of the most popular on the internet, such as Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, etc. They are the places where people can interact with others easily and expose themselves to strangers. Our generation and the younger ones have more opportunities to grow up with the new development of technology that will shape the way they live of communicating and sharing ideas. The social media causes some problems that lead to less social interaction and negatively affect students academic, but it also brings benefit to people that creates new social connections to bring people from all over the world to be closer.

    Read More

  • What is the Risk of Social Media In the Classroom?

    527 Words  | 2 Pages

    There are places and content offline that is inappropriate to students and so it is online. This has been a major concern for educators and the society as a whole. However this does not deter the increased use of technology including social media in the classroom. Social media tools have become a part of people’s lives so it is easy to integrate it in the classroom, (Brooks, 2014). However, there are many risks associated with integrating social media tools in the classroom just as there are risks associated with the traditional use of online tools. E-safety issue is one of the major risks involved in the use of social media tools in the classroom as there is a risk of putting students’ safety and privacy at risk. According to (Mackenzie, 2012), several risks involved: computer security, issues relating to antivirus, password and firewall as well as email scams. Faculty and administration along with the students need to be aware of the risks entailed in the use of social media in the classrooms.

    Read More

  • Social Impact on College Students

    1086 Words  | 3 Pages

    Social Media has become a very essential tool in the society; in addition, it has a huge impact on communication and learning process. Social media is defined as websites and applications used for social networking. “As of September 2013, seventy-one percent of online adult use Facebook, eighteen percent use Twitter and seventeen percent use Instagram, twenty-two percent use PInterest, and another twenty-two percent use LinkedIn. (PewReasearch, 2013). In addition, "Between February 2005 and August 2006, the use of social networking sites among young adult internet user ages eighteen and twenty-nine jumped from nine percent to forty-nine percent. The usage of social media had grown drastically.” On social media sites like these, users may develop biographical profiles, communicate with friends and strangers, do research, and share thoughts, photos, music, links, and more” (Socialnetworking.procon,2012). Social media has impacted everyone in several different ways. In this present time, majority of college student use Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Social media has a bold impact college student's grades, social interactions, and the teaching and learning process.

    Read More

  • The Impact of Social Media on Children

    931 Words  | 2 Pages

    It is not just an avenue for socializing; kids and adolescents can be creative, interact, and learn (Chau, 2010). Social networking provides an alternative way to get students interested in learning through a new and previously unconventional medium (Rosen, 2011).... ... middle of paper ... ...

    Read More

  • Social Media's Effect on Academic Performance

    879 Words  | 2 Pages

    The popularity of social media is rapidly increasing in the last few decades. This may be due to the students of colleges and universities as well as youth is widely used for global access. Social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook have become a craze for everyone nowadays. In these cases, some students are more concerned about social media or social networks than on teaching by lecturers and will cause affected their academic performance.

    Read More

  • Modern Communication: Social Networks

    978 Words  | 2 Pages

    While with the constant use of these social technologies, less people are communicating in person, this type of technology might be doing more harm than good because with the rise of websites such as Facebook, social networking may be on the verge of replacing traditional personal interactions for the next generation. Social networks were created for the sole purpose of helping individuals communicate. There are many other reasons that these technologies are used, but communication is still the number one. It is not only changing how we communicate, but how we interact with each other in daily life. Supporters of social networking sites say that the online communities promote increased interaction with friends and family and offer teachers, librarians, and students valuable access to educational support and materials.

    Read More

  • Why Is Social Media A Waste Of Time?

    867 Words  | 2 Pages

    Some believe social networks are a waste of time; slacking in school or in jobs and can sometimes be dangerous. Facebook, Snapchat, or Twitter can be one of these problems with some teenagers. “Students who use social media had an average GPA of 3.06 while nonusers had

    Read More

  • The Impact of Facebook on Students' Academic Performance

    1686 Words  | 4 Pages

    Wise, L. Z., Jason Skues, and Benedict Williams. "Facebook in Higher Education Promotes Social but not Academic Engagement." Changing Demands, Changing Directions. Proceedings Ascilite Hobart 2011 (2011): 1333-1342. Ascilite with Full Text. 9 Feb. 2014.

    Read More

More about Using Social Networking In Higher Education

Open Document